Griffes for pleasure
Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884 - 1920) The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan Boston Symphony; Seiji Ozawa, cond. New World 273
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Korngold writes a symphony
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897 – 1957) Symphony, Op. 40 Philadelphia Orchestra; Franz Welser-Most, cond. EMI 56169
A belated Schumann premiere
Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856) Violin Concerto in D Minor Gidon Kremer, violin; Philharmonia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, cond. EMI 69334
Bach's "wake up" call?
J.S. Bach (1685 – 1750) Cantata No. 140 (Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme) Bach Ensemble; Helmuth Rilling, cond. Laudate 98.857
Diamond's "Rounds"
David Diamond (1915-2005) Rounds Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Nonesuch 79002
Short (but tough) Copland
Aaron Copland (1900 – 1990) Short Symphony (Symphony No. 2) San Francisco Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG 68541
Music for St. Cecilia's Day
Henry Purcell (1659 – 1695) Hail Bright Cecilia! Gabrieli Consort; Paul McCreesh Archiv 445 882 George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1759) Ode for St. Cecilia's Day English Concert; Trevor Pinnock, cond. Archiv 419 220 Benjamin Britten (1913 –1976) Hymn to St. Cecilia London Sinfonietta Voices Virgin 90728
Harbison's "Flight into Egypt"
John Harbison (b. 1938) Flight into Egypt Cantata Singers and Ensemble; David Hoose, cond. New World 80395
Meredith Monk
Meredith Monk (b. 1942) Atlas Meredith Monk Ensemble; Wayne Hankin, cond. ECM 1491
Gershwin's last film score
George Gershwin (1898 – 1937) Damsel in Distress Suite (An American in London) Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; John Mauceri, cond. Philips 434 274
About Composers Datebook®
Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.
He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.